Stereotype casting box



y 1942. A. J. BUELTMANN STEREOTYPE CASTING BOX Filed Sept. 26, 1940 n wmo n/g 0 0 or V O 0 HUN 0 a @i 5 n ATTZRES Patented July 14, 1942STEREOTYPE CASTING BOX Alfons J. Bueltmann, Chicago,

-Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application September 26, 1940, Serial No.358,417

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to stereotype casting and moreparticularly to novel and improved vacuum stereotype casting boxes.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrates ones embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a typical andillustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 33of Figure 2, with the core removed.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel andimproved vacuum casting box for casting of stereotype plates. A furtherobject is the provision of an improved vacuum casting box which iscapable of producing superior plates over a long period of time and canbe readily cleaned. The invention also provides a casting box for theproduction of stereotype printing plates in which the matrix supportingsuction member may be removed and easily cleaned so as to maintain it atmaximum efficiency.

According to the present embodiment of the invention the casting box, asillustratively shown for casting curved newspaper printing plates,comprises a removable core or drag cooperating with a stationary cope orback, both the cope and drag being substantially semi-cylindrical, andthe back or cope being provided with a removable, substantiallyunyielding, foraminous plate, spaced from the back and sealed, withrespect thereto so that suction applied to the space between the plateand the back may be applied to the foraminated portion of the plate tohold the matrix tightly during the casting operation. The foraminationsin the removable backing plate are preferably enlarged rearwardly oraway from the matrix, and are substantially equally spaced over theentire surface of the backing plate. Clamping and sealing means areprovided which are removable to release the backing plate and normallysecure and seal the backing plate to the backing member, and other meansare provided for positively moving the backing plate away from the backto facilitate its removal.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description, and thefollowing detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention, but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing which shows thepresent preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention, theinvention is shown as applied to a stereotype casting box for thecast-ing of semi-cylindrical newspaper printing plates and comprises theusual semi-cylindrical core l0, and arcuate member II and a cooperatingbacking member I2 which is recessed to receive the relatively unyieldingbacking plate l5 of semi-cylindrical shape fitted into a cavity in theconcave face of the backing member I2. The backing plate I5 ispreferably seated against the contacting concave face of the backingmember l2 which is formed with a plurality of vertically extendingparallel ducts I 4 which communicate with a duct I8 at the top of thechamber merging into the duct Hi to which is attached the vacuum pipe20. Thus the backing plate 15 is securely supported and always presentsa true cylindrical face towards the convex face of the core Ill betweenwhich is the casting chamber 2|.

Means are provided for securing the backing plate l5 in the positionshown in the drawing, and for this purpose a clamping rail 24 extendsvertically at each of the vertical edges of the backing plate l5, theserails being secured to the backing member l2 by means of the screws 25so that the plate I 5 is securely held in its proper position. Rails 24are provided with the usual matrix holding bars 26 pivotally mountedthereon by means of the brackets 21 so that the matrix 28 may be clampedand held in arcuate position by means of its vertical edgessubstantially conformed to the arcuately concave surface of the backingplate l5.

For applying the vacuum to the rear face of the matrix, that is to itsconvex or unimpressed face, the backing plate [5 is provided with arelatively large number of rather small apertures 30 which are uniformlydistributed over its surface and extend through the thickness of theplate from the matrix supporting side and are alined with the verticalchannels [4 so that the suction from the pipe 20 is equally applied toeach of the apertures 30. The apertures are preferably relatively smalladjacent the matrix and enlarge gradually away from the matrix. Thisgradual enlargement insures that small particles of the matrix will notobstruct the holes and thereby shut off the application of suction tothe rear face of the matrix 28, and similarly preventing the clogging ofthese holes by particles of stereo metal, as well as facilitatingcleaning of the holes.

In order to facilitate removal of the plate l5 for cleaning after thescrews 25 and clamping rails 24 have been removed, screws 35 arethreaded into the backing member 12 and project forwardly and radiallytowards the backing plate l5. Figure 2 shows these screws 35 in theirnormally retracted position. while Figure 3 shows them in the projectedposition after having moved the backing plate l5 so as to enable it tobe easily removed. Screws 35 bear directly against the backing plate,and when it is to be removed, they may be screwed in,

freeing the plate I5 and thereby allowing it to I be easily removed forcleaning.

After the plate l5 has been removed, it can be easily and thoroughlycleaned and any of the holes 3?} which are clogged by stereo metal orotherwise may be cleared by brushing or by pushing the obstructing metalthrough the plate from the concave side.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a stereotype plate casting box having a cope, including aremovable matrix supporting plate perforated for holding the matrix bysuction, said cope being channelled to provide suction at theperforations of the plate, each of the perforations being-enlarged awayfrom the matrix to prevent the accumulation of obstructing matter in theperforations.

2. In a stereotype plate casting box having a cope, including aremovable matrix supporting plate perforated for holding the matrix bysuction, said cope being channelled to provide suction at theperforations of the plate, each of the perforations being enlarged awayfrom the matrix to prevent the accumulation of obstructing matter in theperforations, and means for positively moving the plate away from thecope.

3. A stereotype plate casting box including a curved backing memberrecessed to receive a perforated backing plate, channels on the backingmember communicating with the perforations, means for clamping andsealing the backing plate to the backing member, means for applyingsuction to the channels and the perforations and means for positivelymoving the plate away from the backing member.

ALFONS J. BUELTMANN.

